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A group of ambitious hopefuls have been given a rare opportunity to learn from the best in British broadcasting, thanks to the ´óÏó´«Ã½Â Production Trainee Scheme.

Renowned as the gold standard in an industry populated by its former recruits, the ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s Production Trainee Scheme saw more than 2,000 people compete for a place this year.

Following a tough application process, involving a series of interviews and assessments, the successful trainees are now beginning the scheme.

The scheme that kick-started the career of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Director-General Mark Thompson offers 12 trainees 18 months of face-to-face training, online learning and placements on real programmes and projects in TV, radio and new media.

On their initial placements trainees could find themselves in London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Inverness, working across networks and programmes from The One Show and Crimewatch to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 or sport on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 5 Live.

Spanning a diverse range of backgrounds and experience, the trainees all share a passionate interest in the media. Amongst other things they have volunteered for local community radio or written for websites and their student newspaper.

The group includes Smita Chandrashekar, who studied Neuroscience at university before moving on to gain a Masters in Broadcast Journalism; Zoe Curtis, who completed a summer programme in Political Journalism at Georgetown University, USA; and Sam White, who previously worked as a DJ and has released an album with his own band.

Former trainee and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Director-General Mark Thompson said: "The Production Trainee Scheme is incredibly important to the ´óÏó´«Ã½, helping us find outstanding talent to become the content makers and commissioners of the future.

"As a former ´óÏó´«Ã½ trainee myself, I truly believe the experience the trainees will get is the best in the industry."

Anne Morrison, Director of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Academy, added: "The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Academy is proud to run this iconic scheme. Many of the top talent of our industry are former recruits and we are delighted to give fresh new talent each year the chance to join them.

"We believe there's no better start in broadcasting for the 12 trainees, selected from over 2,000 applications as the brightest and the best."

The trainees officially started the scheme on Tuesday 1 September 2009.

Notes to Editors

The trainees are: Tom Bowker from Bath; Smita Chandrashekar from Ashford, Kent; Rowan Crawford from Dundee; Zoe Curtis from Long Crendon, Bucks; Rob Facey from Poole, Dorset; Mark Harrison from Birmingham; Sam Psyk from Bradford-on-Avon; Jack Rampling from Glasgow; Anna Stephens from Bromley; Jonathan Taylor from Leicester; Mike Tighe from Leyland, Lancashire; and Sam White from Liverpool.

OL